One woman stepped into the subway train, something she had to experience as she travelled around the world as a historian. The subway was noisy, hyper, and crowded and she thankfully caught her way to the train before it took off. She preferred standing so that she wouldn't have to inconvenience anyone on the ride. She thought to read something as she waited for her stop but everyone around seemed excited for some reason.
She decided that she won't bother anyone about it. The noise and conversation went on and her curiousity got the best of her. Carefully she placed the book she had chosen back into her backpack and slowly approached some younger high schools around her.
"Hey girls, sorry to interrupt it's just that I'm noticing everyone is so excited. Is there a holiday I missed probably?" She asked. One of the girls waved for her to come closer so as not to make noise in the train about it.
"No not really. There's a new book that just suddenly became famous out of nowhere before we knew it, it just blew up and everyone is talking about it," the girls squealed and nodded their heads vigorously.
"The kind of spice your generation is into I'm guessing?" The older woman asked.
"No ma'am, not at all. I mean those are still on the table, but this is so addicting it could get into your bones. It's a tragic story really. Nothing we have had as a best seller before. I mean the angst is just killing us. It's even on the news." Another one of the girls pulled up that morning's broadcast on her phone, stood up and showed the younger woman.
"Welcome to today's morning news show, Good morning America. Today we have news of a piece of art that has had New York city on stand hold. The psychological romance novel released two weeks ago, 'In onyx darkness' has had the biggest viewership the streets have seen in years. Copies sold out this week faster in every store. Heck, even my daughter won't shut up about it." The girls squealed again and handed the woman the book it was a free copy of the sellers in the subway where she has taken her train.
The older woman looked all over across the train. He blue cover of the novel was in almost everyone's hand. She didn't think she had ever seen anything like this back home in Ireland at all. She stared down at the book that the girls gave her and read the first page. She saw the name of the main characters and tilted her head in amusement.
"Thanks so much girls, have a nice day at school." They all waved to her excitedly and went back to reading the books in their hands. She glanced again at the names and shook her head. Who had written this? Who had reached over all this research in their lives individually and for how long?
The woman waved down a cab and silently took the drive to the state prison right off the outskirts of New York and alighted right at the gate. Her footsteps were silent. She had been through these walls before, for a different reason entirely once but the air right now seemed charged around her. The guards had her sign some lapaer work before she sat across the glass window waiting for her guest.
The man she was waiting for came to the other side of the window. He still looked young and light still full of life but his eyes told another story. He gently and quietly sat down on the chair. The two of them said nothing at first before the older women took out a thermos with a cup and poured hot tea into the cup and slid it into the tiny hole on the glass.
"Bonjuor Quincy, Ça fait trop longtemps, hasn't it?" The old woman asked and his lips lifted into a small smile as he took a sip of her tea.
"Bonjuor Raelle, it's been too long I agree. How are you? How is Ireland taking you?" He asked with a soft tone.
"Marvellous, my husband loves it there. It's so warm there and peaceful if I died I'd know it would be in a peaceful place." Q smiled at her little joke and shook his head.
"It's not your time yet at least not until I can properly have a nice cup of tea with you."
"I agree. I'll hold you to it." She smiled then paused and really looked at him. "How are you dear, really? I'm not talking about this cage. How are you really feeling?"
"Uh, it's not been the same since the case finalized. I feel peaceful here like my mind has finally settled but a part of it seems to never want to settle." He replies and she slowly nods her head.
"The girl went through too much with you, she needs help you know that? Your guilt won't fade but it should settle your conscious that she is in good care and being treated hm?"
Quincy nods and let's out a heavy breath not knowing what else to say.
"I came across a surprise this morning dear. I don't know if the surprise will shock you or not. I was on the subway today, for curiosity',s sake of course. I came to find out. Everything you and Miss Allera went through was documented."
Quincy froze and raised a brow so fast he didn't feel himself doing it. He leaned forward on his chair and slowly opened his mouth.
"By the court?" He asked.
"No, everything that happened between you and Venice. How you met, your stalking, your victims, your court case. It's become a best seller book all over New York." She whispered and leaned it so that the guard outside wouldn't hear.
"You're joking. How is that even possible? All details?" He asked stunned now and the old woman nodded her head and slid the book to him through the hole. The title shone in his face, In Onyx Darkness. He flipped it to read the back for the synopsis. There was none just honorary from different editors and newspapers talking about being the book of the decade and all.
"Please tell me Venice doesn't know about this, is this even legal?" Quincy asked his movements becoming uneasy.
"I'll find out more and let you know when I do." The old woman said and left. Leaving the book flat down for Quincy to do with it what he wished.